For anyone who is a little tough on themselves, this one is for you.

Have you ever had a simple question cross your path - at the perfect time - that helps reshape how you see yourself?  A beautiful friend and mentor of mine recently asked me that very question.  "What would it take for you to live without struggle?" 

I had never thought to ask myself this before.  It made so much sense and I really loved the simplicity and power of it.  So - I closed my eyes and asked the question.  Sat there quietly, curious as to what I might find.

A simple truth

It wasn't long before I heard my answer - "Be Kind."

I drew a deep breath and knew within my heart – this wasn't just about being gentle to others. This was really about me showing myself a little more patience, a little more love, and a little more kindness.

As I sat in this new truth, I began to unpack the significance of what it truly meant to live within its wisdom.  Like a movie playing across my mind - I started to see things more clearly.  I saw where I'd been too hard on myself, too critical, too judgmental. Where I'd set impossible standards and beat myself up when I couldn't meet them. I saw how I'd spent far too much time circling my own doubt and analysing my flaws rather than seeing my value.  Sound familiar? 

Seeing it all - laid out like this opened my eyes.  I didn't need to worry about the world judging me unfairly… I had been doing a pretty good job of it on my own. 

The Antidote

Thanks to my friend's insightful question, I felt like I'd been given a shot of kindness straight to the heart – the perfect dose of antibodies I needed to walk a lighter path.  But to really get it, I had to ditch my old idea of what kindness meant. I had to squeeze my way past all those overused clichés - "spread kindness like confetti"; “love yourself" - to really open up to its sacred medicine.  I had to start deliberately choosing differently.  To live from my heart, not my head. To live from choice, not habit. To live from hope, not fear.  To live from sovereignty, not obligation. 

Think about it's power for a moment… and its ability to bridge divides!  When you consciously choose to act from a place of “do no harm” you offer yourself and others genuine understanding and support - even when things get tough.  Imagine what it would feel like to experience this?  When life is hard and you are met with understanding and support rather than blame and judgement.   How would that change things for you?

Consciously choosing it

So why not give it a try? Take a moment to be kinder to yourself. Maybe you don't need to check everything off your to-do list this week. Maybe it's time to let go of that guilt or responsibility you've been carrying around.  Maybe it is okay to say no to something you really don't want to do. 

When you choose to step beyond your old habits - you allow your true nature and your heart's wisdom to take centre stage. You soften and experience a new freedom and appreciation for yourself and others. It is in these moments of kindness that you open yourself up to new perspectives.  And from that space, new beginnings are possible and new habits form.

So go ahead - try it. How good does it feel to be kind?  It feels wonderful right? To offer kindness to someone who needs it most… and that is you!